THE Schools-Probation OR RULES AND ORDERS For certain Set-Exercises to bee performed by the Scholars on PROBATION-DAIES Made and approved by learned men for the use of Merchant-Tailor's-School in LONDON LONDON Printed by H. L. for WILLIAM DU-GARD late of Merchant-Tailors now Master of a Private School in Colemanâ— Street 1661. THE ORDERS OF THE School's-Probation 1. A PROBATION of the whole School shall bee made onely by the Master of the School and the three Ushers and at these four times viz. The first on the eleventh daie of March the second on the eleventh day of June the third on the eleventh daie of September the fourth on the eleventh of December not beeing Sundaies And if any of the said daies happen on the Sundaie then upon the next daie following 2. The Master of the School eight or nine daies before the said Probation-daie shall admonish all the Scholars of the School as well them that be absent by messengers as them that be present by himself First that they prepare all such necessaries as are required on the Probation-daie Secondly that they com to the School on the said Probation-daie in the morning at half an hour after six of the clock at the furthest and so to continue till eleven and in the afternoon likewise at half an hour after twelv and to continue till five 3. The Master of the School the daie before the Probation-daie shall see that every Scholar in the School bee furnished with sufficient paper pens and ink for the next daie's exercise and also that every one's name his age the daie month and year of his coming first to School bee written with his own hand on the outside of his paper or paper book or on the top of his first page 4. The Master of the School shall propound to every Form in the School for four hours in the forenoon and as many in the afternoon of the Probation-daie several exercises to be don in writing by every one of them within the set-time hereafter mentioned 5. The Master of the School and the three Ushers while the Scholars are doing their work and during the prescribed time shall carefully and with a watchfull eie provide that no Scholar of any Form do prompt or once lean towards his fellow for help that the Founders may the better know how they proceed by doing of their own act and exercise without any help 6. The Master of the School and the three Ushers at th' end of every hour during the whole daie shall see that every emptie space and also the last line of every exercise bee crossed that afterwards there may bee no adding of any thing but that the work of every boy do stand to be viewed hereafter as hee of himself did perform it in that set time and that the forenoon's work shall bee alwaies taken from the Scholars at their going away by the Ushers and delivered to the Master which at one of the clock shall be delivered to them again to write the rest of their task 7. The Master of the School shall not propound to any form the same Dialogue Epistle Theme Sentence or Vers twice in one year 8. No Scholar of any Form shall bee urged to write more of the task prescribed within the limited hour then hee is well able to perform 9. If any Scholar shall bee found on three several Probation-daies either by his own negligence or his friend's will to bee absent from the School or having been present by his over-slender and weak exercises to bee unapted and unmeet to learn or els a non-proficient that then every such Scholar that so shall be found absent unapt or not competently profiting shall bee according to the Companie 's Order heretofore provided in the like behalf dismissed the School 10. The Master of the School receiving all the Scholar's exercises don by them on the said Probation-daie shall caus every Form's papers of exercises to bee sowed together into six several volumes or books every Form apart by it self and afterwards lay them up in som convenient place appointed thereunto And hee shall not in any wise diminish any of them that the succeeding posteritie as well of the Companie as of the School by comparing their present exercises with them of former times may see how much and wherein they exceed or com behinde them 11. The Master of the School within four daies after the said Probation-daie shall enter into a book called The Register of the School's-Probation conteining 400 leavs of large paper in form of a brief Table or Kalendar First That the said Trials were performed the 11th daie of that present month according to the Orders prescribed Secondly all the Scholars of the six Forms every Form by it self in this order viz. the name of every boy as he sitteth in his Form his age and time of continuance Next what books and how far in them hee hath read Lastly what exercises hee usually make's with the Schoolmaster and three Usher's own hands subscribed thereunto which Table or Kalendar thus entred into the said Register the Master of the School accompanied with one of his Ushers shal shew to the Master and Wardens at their Hall upon the first or second ordinarie Court-daie next after following the daie of Probation beeing past four daies before to th' end that if they so pleas they may appoint som persons to repair to the School to take knowledg and view of the exercises don by every boy on the said Probation-daie and also that they themselvs or som other for them may presently or after when they think best compare the last things registred with the like things registred at former Probations to see every boy'es continuance either in any Form or in the School and other like circumstances there mentioned And the Master and Wardens or som one of them shall subscribe to the Register so brought and confirmed under the School-Master and Usher's hands and also caus to bee entred into their Court-book the daie on which the said Master of the School with one of his Ushers came and presented the same for testimonie to the Companie as well of the said dutiful presentment as also of their care towards the School and desire they have to know how their Scholars do proceed and even then shall bee given to the said Mr of the School xxvi s viii d by the name of a Reward to bee distributed equally for considerations in the * This giver is Mr Dow an antient worthie Master of the Company a bountiful Benefactor to the Poor a. heartie wel-wisher to the School and a great lover of learning learned men Giver to himself and his three Ushers vi s viii d to each of them for their good care and pains taken in the premisses and their further encouragement Provided alwaies herein that upon any fraudulent dealing in the Master of the School or the three Ushers the aforesaid Reward shall ceas and the blame and shame shall
Schoolmaster and presently translate the same into proper and plain English leaving empty spaces so often as they are not able to translate it themselvs They shall turn the same period into other Latine one or more waies and also into Greek They shall turnit into Latine Hexameters and Pentameters or Sapphicks They shall make two three or more periods in prose upon som theme or sentence propounded and also verses on the same The Afternoon THe Schoolmaster having opened on Hour the sodain the Greek Testament Aesop's Fables in Greek or som other very easie Hours Greek Autor shall read som short sentence without naming letters accent spirit or point or telling them any thing that may help their understanding thereof and the Scholars shall write word by word after the Schoolmaster and presently translate the same into proper and plain english leaving empty spaces so often as they are not able to translate it themselvs They shall turn the same sentence into proper and plain Latine and also into other Greek They shall also turn it into Greek Hexameters and Pentameters or Sapphicks They shall make two three or more periods in Greek prose and also som Greek verses upon som Greek sentence propounded The Utilitie and Benefit of these Probations and Trials FIrst they are provocations to the Teachers and Scholars to be very studious circumspect and careful in their several places that the former by Teaching and the other by Learning do make good preparation thereunto Secondly they will mak the Teachers so to instruct their Scholars that they of themselvs may be well able to practise and make use of whatsoever they teach that all their exercises be don of understanding and knowledg without the help of any other Thirdly they will caus both Teachers and Scholars every day more and more to surpass themselvs in all things and namely that the last exercises be for substance more to the purpose for the tongue more proper for order better for writeing fairer and in all circumstance more pleasing the Viewers then the former were Fourthly these Probations and Trials will be to all men infallible and sure testimonies of the Teacher's diligence and the Scholars profiting whence Whence as from a fountain will flow to the Companie contentment to parents satisfaction to teachers comfort to Scholars cheerfulness to the School credit to posterity if not matters of emulation yet patterns of imitatation and occasion of far better exercises Fiftly the Company from the exercises don on the probation-dayes shall truly be informed when and how often soever they pleas which Scholars of the highest Form be absolutely the best and which simply be the worst whereby the Merchant-Tailors at the Election day shall the better know which of the Scholars is most fit to be preferred to St John Baptist College in Oxford and not depend so much upon others Lastly although the papers of the Scholar's exercises written on the probation daies should presently be cancelled burnt or converted into any other use yet shall the Scholar's benefit arising principally from the making thereof be the same as if they were reserved for posteritie Howbeit it cannot be denied but that the keeping of them for the view of posteritie will caussom great care both in the preparation and making thereof WEe whose names are here subscribed allow and think very good and necessarie that the Orders and Exercises aforesaid be used by the Schoolmaster Ushers and Scholars of the Merchant-Tailor's school for their most profit in learning and commendation of the School and Founders of the same John Overall Dean of Pauls John Dove Doctor in Divinitie John Spencer Doctor in Divinitie Nicolas Felton Doctor in Divinitie John Childerley Doctor in Divinitie THE EXAMINATION OF THE School's-Probation The Preface WHereas certain Orders are appointed for the Probation of all the Scholars of Merchant-Tailors-School four several times in the year viz. upon the eleventh daies of March June September and December devised with confirmation of certain learned Doctors to bee don for good considerations by the Master of the School and his three Ushers onely and to bee entered into the School's Register with the Master and his three Ushers hands subscribed thereunto and then signified to the Master and Wardens of the Companie of Merchant-Tailors at their common Hall and there entred into their court-Court-Book It is further thought meet and convenient for the better satisfaction of the said Master and Wardens and Court of Assistants as well for the true and faithful performance of the said Probation by the Master of the School and his three Ushers as also from time to time to know which boies profit most and be the best and likeliest Scholars in the six several Forms that the said Probations have their Examination and Trial and the same to be truly and duly observed and kept for ever except they shall upon grave and needful considerations with good advice and consent alter and change any part thereof Which said Examination shall bee made and don at two several times every year in manner and form following 1. Of the Examination the place and time THis examination shall be made by two judicious men well learned both in Greek and Latin apt and fit for that purpose and being by the Master and Wardens thereunto requested two or three daies before the said forenoon of Examination and in the South part of the School commonly called the Chappel in the forenoon onely between the eleventh and twentieth daies of the Month of March and September The whole business thereof shall bee so well plotted and foreseen that all this Examination be fully don between the hours of six and eleven or soon after that all that bee present may the better end and depart before twelve of the clock becaus it is meant that at this Examination there shall bee neither eating nor drinking except a little to stay one's stomach as is hereunder appointed and mentioned 2. Of the persons onely to be present the time of coming together and reading of Orders THe Master and Wardens beeing the Surveiors of the School or two of them at the least the Clark and Beadle attending upon them shall together with the two aforesaid learned men be at the School at six a clock in the morning at the farthest without any farther assembly of commers whatsoever except the Master of the School for testimonie aswel of the Companies care and pains for their School as also of his own faithfulness in his place do desire to call thither two honest men Fathers or Friends of his Scholars And then there the Companie 's Clark shall make an end of reading all such Orders as concern this present business of Examination at a quarter of an hour before seven of the clock at the farthest 3. That no impertinent matter is to be intruded IN all this Examination to the end that all things may be don quietly in love and amitie and that the truth the onely end of this
morning's business may the more plainly and sufficiently appear and also the better to end with the time no one idle question or impertinent talk which may hinder the present service shall in any case by any person then present be moved 4. Wherein and how the Scholars are to bee examined THe Scholars of every Form shall be examined and tried within the limited time first in every one 's own exercises which he made on the last Probation-daie in such circumstances waies and means whereby the examiners may most evidently see quickly know and certainly be assâ—red that all the said Exercises were made by every boie 's own self without the prompting or help of auy and that it is likely if they shall bee thereunto required they bee able forthwith to make the like Secondly for the Examiners more ample sufficient and full insight into the ability or unabiâ—ity of every several boy they may if they think fit so soon as any Form except the lowest is com before them propound and prescribe unto them all one and the same dictatum vulgar or english of two or three lines presently either to bee turned into Latine or a Latine sentence to bee varied out of som of their late Lectures Thirdly if time will permit all shall be further examined in the books which they then learn or lately have learned 5. Of the time to bee spent in examining every Form and of the best Scholars THe two learned men or if they for more speedy dispatch shall think good the Master of the School in the presence of the Master and Wardens or any two of them and the Companie 's Clark shall spend half an hour and not above to which end is delivered to the said Master of the School one half-hour glass with his case to bee used for the better observation of the time in examining especially eight or ten boies whom the said Master of the School hath then first and not before at any man's request or suit whatsoever nominated to bee the forwardest boies in every one of the five lowest forms Which said nominated best boies for the gaining of time shall immediately before the end of the half hour or dismission of their fellows bee brought into the Chappel or place of Examination as also all the rest of the Scholars of every one of the said Forms shall bee afterward quietly and without any disturbance like wise brought before them And the said Examination shall begin before seven a clock first with the Scholars of the first or lowest form and so asscending and proceeding to the second third fourth and fift Forms in order until half an hour after nine a clock and from that time until half an hour after ten all the Scholars of the sixt or highest Form Which said two learned men having with all indifferencie don their best endeavors to know and finde as well out of them that were not nominated as them that were nominated the best and forwardest boies at the end of their Examinations shall be intreated to inform the Master and Wardens then present how the Scholars do profit and whether the School-Master and Ushers do faithfully and wisely performe their duties and of such other circumstances as may tend to the good of the School 6. An entrance to bee made in the Companie 's Register-Book THe Clark of the Companie shall after every such Examination make a Record or Entrance in the Companie 's Register book of their Court of assistants of the daie of everie such Examination and of the names of the Examiners and of such of the Companie as were present at every such Examination together with the conceits and opinions of the learned men how the Scholars do profit and whether the School-Master and Ushers do carefully and wisely perform the duty of their place and shall publish and read the fame at the next Court of Assistants following every such Examination 7. Of the monie to bee given and distributed IN consideration of which pains XL s at each of the two several times in the year shall be paid and given to and amongst the above-mentioned persons in this manner viz. To each of the two learned men X s XX s To the Master of the School and his three Ushers â—ii s iiii d a piece thought good by the Donor so to be divided equally for the more care to be had by the said Ushers for the applying the Scholars under them Xiii s iiii d To the Companie 's Clark iii s iiii d To their Beadle for warning the Assemblie and attending at the School that none come to trouble the Examination XVI d There shall be paid unto the Master of the School for beer ale and new Mancherbread with a dish of sweet Butter which hee shall have ready in the morning with two fine glasses set upon the Table and covered with two fair Napkins two fair trenchers with a knife laid upon each trencher to the end that such as pleas may take part to staie their stomachs untill the end of the Examination â—i s 8. An Exposition of the Companie 's meaning touching this Examination IT is not meant by this Examination any other matter but to give the Companie light how their School standeth with the diligence of the Master and his three Vshers and their Scholars good proceeding in learning and how truly the Probations were by the School-master and the three Vshers performed ORDERS of the SCHOOL concerning the Removing out of one Form into another The Infinita Classis or Pettite Form NOne shall expect to bee removed out of the I. Infinita Classis or Pettite-Form unless hee can first give to the Master of the School a perfect Account 1. Of his English Rudiments and also readily without stop or studie decline any Noun in Propria quae maribus and Quae genus according to the five Declensions 2. Compare a Noun Adjective and decline a Pronoun 3. Say by heart at least three Principles of Perkins's Catechism 4. Write so much of the Probation of the first Form as his learning will reach unto The I. Form NOne shall expect to bee removed out of the II. First Form into the Second unless hee can besides the task of the Infinita Classis give a perfect Account 1. Of the Conjugations of Verbs and the declining of any Verb in As in praesenti without stop or studie 2. Of Vestibulum Linguae Latinae 3. Of Sententia Puerilis 4. Of Cato's Distichs 5. Of Perkins's Catechism the whole Book 6. Of the Exercises of the Probation prescribed to the First Form The II. Form NOne shall expect to bee removed out of the III. Second Form into the Third unless hee can besides the task of the First Form give a perfect Account 1. Of the Regular Syntaxis i. e. unto Figura c. 2. Of Lilie's Rules called Qui nâ—ihi c. 3. Twentie Fables in Aesop 4. Fourtie Colloquies in Corderius 5. Four Centuries of Janua